By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, Mr Richard Pheelangwa, on Wednesday 28th January, 2026 embarked on a familiarisation visit to Equipment and Protective Applications International Limited (EPRIL) located in Ogun State.
During the visit, he commended the company for its contributions to the Nigerian Security Architecture and urged them to continue to produce viable and durable items for the military formations in Nigeria and across the Africa region.
He informed that due to the critical role played by the company in supporting the military in Nigeria and across Africa,the ministry has demonstrated its strong commitment to assist the company in delivering their projects and initiatives noting that since he assumed office as the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, the ministry has sustainably supported the company in facilitating the process of obtaining the End user certificate, tax exemption from the Federal Ministry of Finance and Nigeria Customs Service to ease the importation of the raw materials they need.
Pheelangwa emphasized the need to uphold the collaboration with the ministry which will necessitate continuous integrity checks on the items they produce and supply to clients especially those items outside Nigeria bearing in mind the quality of their products including services rendered to clients will no doubt determine the level of patronage from clients.
The Managing Director of the company Mr Kola Balogun thanked the Permanent Secretary for the visit and the support the company has received from the ministry. He pledge continues collaboration with the ministry in all its operations.
Equipment and Protective Applications International Limited (EPRIL) is an indigenous and real defence company in Nigeria that specializes in producing military-opetational tools and security related equipment that support the Nigeria military operations. It is one of the key suppliers for the Nigerian military and other international clients.
Similarly the Permanent Secretary also extended the familiarisation visit to PROFORCE GROUP LIMITED also in Ogun State. He acknowledged the growth of the company over the years to become Nigeria’s first and only indigenous defense contractor specialising in the design and manufacture of armoured vehicles and security systems for land, and naval applications. He commended the company for its contributions to the Nigeria security architecture by producing comprehensive defence solutions to the Nigeria military operations and urged them to continue to produce viable and durable items that support military formations in Nigeria and across the Africa region.
Pheelangwa also reiterated the ministry’s support by facilitating the process of obtaining the End user certificate, tax exemption from the Federal Ministry of Finance and Nigeria Customs Service to ease the importation of the raw materials they need in their projects and objectives. He called for the continuous collaboration with the ministry in its operations.
The Managing Director PROFORCE, Engr Ade Ogundeyin appreciated the Ministry’s recognition of the company and pledged continuous collaboration with the ministry in all its operations.
